Malware
MAL-wair
/ˈmælwɛər/
Software that is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.
An umbrella term for any malicious software, encompassing viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, spyware, and more.
The story behind the word. The word 'malware' is a portmanteau, a blend of 'malicious' and 'software.' It emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a convenient umbrella term to describe any software designed to cause harm or unwanted actions on a computer system, encompassing a growing variety of digital threats.
Word relationships
- Virus: A specific type of malware that replicates itself and spreads to other programs.
- Trojan: A type of malware disguised as legitimate software.
- Spyware: Malware designed to secretly gather information about a user.
- Antivirus: Software designed to protect against malware.
- Clean software: Software free of malicious code.
Commonly confused with
- Hardware: Malware refers specifically to malicious software, not physical computer components.
Collocations
- detect malware
- remove malware
- malware attack
- malware infection
- types of malware
Example sentences
- "Always be cautious about opening attachments from unknown senders, as they often contain dangerous malware." A cybersecurity warning.
- "The new antivirus software promises to detect and remove even the most sophisticated forms of malware." A tech news article.
Memory hook
Remember 'MAL' (bad) + 'WARE' (software) = bad software. Bad software
When not to use
Do not use 'malware' for hardware issues or non-software-based attacks.
Fun facts
- The first known computer virus, the 'Elk Cloner,' appeared in 1982, affecting Apple II systems.
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.